Date Night Done Right: SF, for Under $200

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Fun and Inexpensive Date Night in San Fran

It’s hard to find someone that has ever had a bad time at AT&T Park. It’s one of the best ballparks in all of America and a perfect date spot in the summer. Enjoying good food, good beer, and good baseball by South Beach Harbor in the summer is a date night idea that’s pretty hard to top. With a little planning you can impress your date without putting too much of a hurt on your wallet at AT&T Park.

Pre-Game

Whether you’re a diehard Giants fan or clueless about baseball, you can pick up a pair of seats close to the field at AT&T Park without spending more than $80. Expect to pay around $40 per ticket for lower level seating on 1st or 3rd baselines for a Thursday night game. If you don’t mind the nosebleed seats, you can grab upper deck outfield bleacher seats for around $15 a pop – watch out for the hordes of seagulls that flock to the ballpark during later innings though.
Throw on something black and orange for the game, but don’t stress if that’s not a color combination in your closet. Do be sure to bring a few extra layers as temperatures drop quickly when the sun goes down by South Beach Harbor.
Heading to AT&T Park by car can be an expensive headache. Parking will run you between $15-$35 depending on how close you choose to be to the ballpark and expect traffic to move very slowly before and after the game.
Your best bet for getting to the game is the MUNI. The MUNI drops you off right in front of the stadium, it’s cheap, it’s environmentally friendly, and full of enthusiastic fans (a jam-packed claustrophobia inducing ride).

Game Time

San Francisco is a bit of Mecca for foodies and AT&T Park doesn’t disappoint in a city with high standards. Some of the best food and booze in the league can be found at AT&T Park so go hungry and thirsty.
Everyone that’s been to AT&T Park knows about the garlic fries. Gilroy’s Garlic fries are a staple at AT&T Park, find a big green Garlic Fries sign, get in line and wait, you’ll be glad you did.
Once your garlic fries have been devoured give Crazy Crab’z a look for round 2. Crazy Crab’z has been serving up their signature Dungeoness crab sandwiches for years and has amassed quite the following and an unofficial stadium mascot. It’s not a lot of food and it’s not cheap at $16 but it’s San Francisco, so it’s not supposed to be. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Beers at AT&T Park aren’t much different than other beers you find at any ballpark around the league, they’re all expensive and you’re going to have to wait in line to get one. Try stopping by San Francisco Public House outside the stadium before heading into the park. Choose from a huge selection of local microbrews, premium imports, and good old American brews for no more than $5. We were given two hands for a reason: fill them both with a beer and bring them into the stadium to skip out on long lines and $8 stadium brew.
Changeup: Plan B
You could also scratch all of that. Try being adventurous and catch a game in McCovey Cove on a kayak. For $44 each, City Kayak will hook you up with everything you need to enjoy the boatapalooza in McCovey Cove. Included with their McCovey Cove rental package is a touring kayak, kayaking lesson, dry jacket and splash pants, dry bag, life jacket, paddle, and a light stick. Throw your snacks and a few beers in the dry bag, bring some music and enjoy a day game (no night game rentals available) out on the water. You’ll definitely score some creativity points for this one (granted your date knows how to swim).

Post-Game

Bars and restaurants surrounding the ballpark are pretty crowded on game nights. Once you’ve left the park, try walking a few blocks to beat the crowds and find a bit more space to enjoy the end of the evening.
The Utah at 500 4th street is a great stop to catch some awesome live music and a nightcap. The Utah Saloon has been around for over 100 years and is an institution in the middle of the SOMA neighborhood. It’s a dive bar that smells like spilled beer and old wood, but is known for awesome music, stiff drinks, and genuinely friendly bartenders. The upbeat and laid back feel of The Utah make it an easy way to finish off the night after the game.
If you’re looking for something a bit classier, try heading a few blocks past The Utah to Press Club at 20 Yerba Buena Lane. Self proclaimed as ‘a sophisticated and social lounge’, Press Club is a definite change up from the atmosphere at the ballpark. Share a flight or two of their impressive wine tastings and an appetizer but don’t end up here if you’ve got a serious appetite after the game, prices aren’t cheap.

Other City Guides

Not in San Fran? Not a problem. SeatGeek also has great guides for baseball date night (under $200 as well, of course) in Boston and New York City. Check them out if you’re looking for fun, affordable date night suggestions closer to home.